Nathan Clark George in Concert December 19th!

Just wanted to let you know about a free Christmas concert featuring Nathan Clark George on December 19th at Redeemer Presbyterian in Overland Park, KS.

I have had opportunities to see Nathan in concert when he comes to KC, and here is what I learned:

• NCG is a great performer. He likes to get the audience involved! This feat is especially noteworthy given he is a Presbyterian performing in a Presbyterian church - ha ha! Nathan has great rapport with the audience and his fellow musicians on stage and is the opposite of the stereotypical pop star. He is 'down to earth' yet 'heavenly minded' (Col 3:2).


• The setting is warm and intimate regardless of the weather outside (ala 'Let it Snow').


• The music is top notch professional and fun. There is a good mix of timeless hymns, new arrangements of lesser known songs, and brand new creations. This is music everyone will enjoy, regardless of age or gender or race!


• Best of all the message of the music is first and foremost Christ-exalting and often Scripture set to music.


• The concert is free but I believe there is a love offering and opportunity to purchase CD's.

Treat yourself and your loved ones to this concert and enjoy you will be as excited as me the next time you hear news of Nathan Clark George returning to Kansas City.

New to Nathan Clark George? Here is a short bio from Nathan's website:

Award winning singer/songwriter Nathan Clark George has been touring with his music for over a decade, including 4 years full-time in an RV with his family, encouraging a multi-generational vision for the family and the Kingdom of Peace. His discography delivers compelling musical presentations of Scripture along with transparent snapshots of life. Also included is a DVD featuring a full-length concert, as well as a documentary of Nathan and his family and their lives on the road. Most recently, he is excited to be one of the featured artists on the upcoming release from Ligionier Ministries, My Cry Ascends, performing the beautiful compositions of time-honored Psalms and hymns by Greg Wilbur. It is Nathan’s desire to encourage the thoughtful and meaningful approach to corporate worship embodied on this new project, and he looks forward to introducing several of the selections in his upcoming concerts.

Missions on the Mind

From reading Scripture, it is clear that the Lord is very passionate about the nations and wants to be known among them. He's been stirring my heart to missions once again. We had a Missions Emphasis week at FCC Nov 7th through the 14th. At the Bible Study at work, November is 'Let the Nations be Glad!' month (Psalm 67:4-5). This stirring continued last night as we attended an International Student Festival at Park University. I will hit the highlights of each in the order they occurred.

Pastor Tim kicked off the FCC Missions Emphasis week in the 11/3 midweek service. He shared some amazing stats about how the nations are coming right to our doorstep like no other time in history. Our church is located mere miles from a Hindu Temple and a Muslim Mosque (unthinkable 10 years ago). There are 66 countries represented in the NE part of KC and 22,000 Muslims live north of the river. America is wasting her prosperity over the last few decades and is no longer the leading sender of missionaries (Korea now has that honor). The challenge was given from John 4:35, where Jesus said, "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." We were also challenged to pray about how we can, as families and as a church, partner in the Gospel (Phil 1:5)

Conrad Mbewe, the Spurgeon of Zambia Africa, visited FCC Sunday and gave a wonderful sermon from Galatians 3:10-14. He powerfully proclaimed that the world is under the curse of the Almighty God because of sin, and there is a great need for the reversal of that curse. Praise the Lord, the remedy is Jesus Christ! Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3:14)

The next day, I got to hear Conrad preach in an executive presentation room in the public corporation where I work! While speaking at a luncheon in KC, Conrad preached Christ from Ecclesiastes via video-conference to Sacramento, Boston, Toronto, and Montreal (over 100 employees heard a clear Gospel presentation)!

Rich Casebolt enjoys a conversation with Conrad after the luncheon.

On Wed, Nov 10th we heard fromMarty Zide in the mid-week service. Marty ministers at the Midwest Messianic Center in St Louis, to reach our Jewish neighbors there. He shared about evangelism, mostly concepts that are appropriate regardless of who you are sharing with: 1) Know the Gospel, 2) Listen, listen, listen! 3) Trust the power of the Gospel, 4) Use the Word of God, 5) Use Illustrations, and 6) Pray, pray, pray!

Rich Casebolt joined the Bible Study at my work on Nov 11th. It was a more intimate group than when Mbewe was there and more interactive. We talked about the Gospel and missions with a man who has faithfully served in Thailand for the last six years! Jason Dawson (UrbanReformation) a mutual friend of Rich and myself was also there. Without my knowledge he sneaked this creepy photo of me with his phone. Makes me laugh! His picture of Rich did not turn out well at all.



November 13th was the FCC Men's breakfast. It is a time I will never forget. We skyped in a call with Ken Heizer, our missionary to Italy. I enjoyed hearing his simple missions strategy of pouring his life into relationships with the Italians and living out the Gospel with his large family before these lost people.

That same morning, we also heard from a Wycliffe recruiter. Pat (I forget his last name) shared with us of the great need for completing the work of Bible translation. 2,000 languages are yet to have the Word of God translated (not even a verse) in their own language.



This picture puts things into perspective. I was surprised to learn about the number of roles/positions available through Wycliff (not just Biblical translator/scholar). Education and literacy advancement also goes hand in hand with Bible translation, for example.

The last speaker at the Men's Breakfast is a living legend: Frank Drown. As the men mulled into the auditorium and formed lines to get our food, I wondered who the older man was who was sitting down. Turns out it was 88-yr-old Frank Drown who only a couple of days earlier emerged from the hospital with a brand new pacemaker! I will never forget the challenge he gave to the men there. First of all he was very funny. He told of how it took him and his pregnant wife five days of walking in the mud to get to the village where they served as missionaries. "How many of you guys could do that? Bunch of wimps!" He was so engaging and had the undivided attention of all. Often his voice would falter as if he was about to cry. He was so joyful to be holding up a translation of the Bible in the native language of the Indian people in Equador that he had ministered to for thirty years! Later he shared that had recovered and buried the bodies of his friends, those who lost their lives at the hands of the Waodani people (Ecuador) in 1956 . You can read more about this experience here. Frank shared how he just completed a book about this and will be available soon.



Here is Frank's wife Marie, holding the Quichua Bible open to John 3. She shared with me an unexpected insight about John 3:14 (this Bible features a picture of the serpent on the pole) and the significance that the snake had in that culture. It was cursed and therefore this people group would appreciate how Jesus became a curse for sinners when he was lifted up on the tree.

I called Aimee after we were dismissed and was so overwhelmed I could hardly get out the words! The message is simple but powerful: What am I doing to make Christ known among the nations?

I will close with one more guest speaker at our BSG at work. Dr. Jeremy Farmer just happened to be passing through Kansas City during our mission month. So he agreed to come and share with us. Jeremy was a seminary professor at Northland International, teaching Biblical languages and Old Testament. But God has called him to move his family across the world to reach the Loatians in Cambodia! Get to know the Farmers on their website, SolidJoys. He shared a similar message to the one I heard from him at Countryside a year and half ago. He traced the theme of the Gospel from Creation to Christ. Wonderful testament to the unity of the Scriptures and a great way to avoid the familiarity of Jesus command in 'The Great Commission' in Matthew 28:18-20.


Application:

So how do I make sense of all this? Just a couple of thoughts.

• God has a big picture of redeeming this fallen world. The remedy for the curse, left by Adam in the garden is salvation in Jesus Christ. He is calling a people to Himself from every tribe and tongue (Revelation 5:9). What about me? What am I doing to fulfill the Great Commission? As a believer, we are called to either go or send.
• Second, not everyone is called to go overseas. We are to be faithful in the sphere of influence where God has placed us. But we need to keep God's grand design in mind. His Kingdom involves not just the nation of Israel, and not just Christians in America, but the Nations! The nations in many ways are coming to us. Am I being faithful in the opportunities that He has given me, with my time, my money, my prayer life?
  

My wife and I have the privileged of being 'friendship partners' with two Chinese students from Park. ISI is a great way to partner in the Gospel by showing love to international students!

We attended a ceremony Friday night that featured performances from Mexico, Mongolia, China, Thailand, and many others. It also featured a Flag Ceremony where representatives from over 60 nations paraded their country's flags. We need not look far to find people from across the globe that are right here in Kansas City. We need to pray about how to show love to them, and how we can get involved in their lives to gain a hearing for the Gospel.

"Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." --John 4:35

The case of the stolen camera

We recently found our lost digital camera. It was under Adriana's bed and was left on draining the batteries. The following seven pictures stored on it's SD card indicate who the perpetrator might have been.

Exhibit A - this is taken in our utility room. Note the height at which this was taken. Hard to imagine the one taking the picture is taller than two feet.


Exhibit B - Myles revealed this looked like his 'monster guy' (his 6-armed stuffed alien buddy)

Can you see the smile?

Exhibit C - this picture is not included because it is too gross. It is an inside view of kitty's bathroom

Exhibit D - not sure what this is but Myles pointed out some numbers in it.

Exhibit E & F - the most condemning evidence are these two pictures. No one else in the family has these little hands.




Exhibit G - hard to tell but you can see the carpet below through what appears to be fingers.

Can you tell who this mystery photographer is?

I can now write a blog by texting from my phone! WHO KNEW? Problem being: Why would I ever WANT to do a thing like that?

The week in pictures

Thought it was time to post some pictures of the eventful week.

We took a walk at the English Landing Park on Sunday. Gorgeous warm day in November! Aimee and Adriana joined us but elected not to appear in the pictures!

On Monday, Conrad Mbewe spoke at State Street for the Bible Study. His VISA situation working out was an answer to prayer, as was his stirring Christ-centered message from ... Ecclesiastes 1! Over a hundred employees in the US and Canada got to meet Conrad via video-conference.

Here he is chopping it up with Rich Casebolt about church-planting. Rich, having spent the last six years in Thailand, would later speak to the BSG on Thursday.

This week I received my John MacArthur ESV study Bible. If you are not on GTY's mailing list, you missed out! Sign up and you will get a monthly offer for a free CD or other resource. This generous ministry often gives copies of MacArthur's books!

Aimee started her once a week job at Mom's Day Out (daycare). Myles was excited to meet new friends and sport his new Spiderman lunchbox; pictured with his typical arsenal of gestures!

Not without it's challenges, the week also produced this new hairdo. While he came out acting as if nothing had happened we soon learned he had found the razor and played barber to the tune of a giant chunk out of his already short hair! Here is the mugshot.

Great week, though. A friend gave me the book Radical by David Platt and I can't wait to read it. Having heard some of the sermons it was based on, I look forward to reading this call to examine 'the American Dream' in light of Scripture and the radical demands of Christ.

Extra Biblical Literature on Halloween Candy

Here are some recently discovered writings on the proper dividing of the spoils for Halloween candy (posted on this blog). Certainly not inspired, but quite humorous (compare to Leviticus)...

From the Book of Davidicus

3 Of the spoils of your wandering, you shall devote a tenth of the firstfruits to your father. But take heed that you devote what has chocolate, so that he shall be pleased with what he receives.

4 Of the Reese's®, you shall devote them all, likewise the Snickers®. But take heed, lest you try to test your father and give him Skittles® instead of M&Ms®, and thereby incur his disfavor.

5 Of the Pixi Stix®, and the Sweet Tarts®, and the Kandy Korn®, you shall give him no part, for they are an abomination unto him. But of the Nestle Crunch® and Krackel®, you shall give him a portion, as a peace offering.

6 Lest you grumble because of the nuts in the flesh of your spoils, you may offer the bars that contain them unto your father. Mr. Goodbar® is favored, as are the Peanut M&Ms®. Almond Joy® hath nuts, Mounds® don't.

7 You shall reserve the choicest fruits: the special darks, and the truffles, for an offering to your mother, who bore you, who brought you to life. And it is under her rule as to when you are able to eat the remainder.

8 And on the day of cleansing, the last day, all the bags shall be opened, and I shall say unto you, "How on earth did we get so many Tootsie Rolls®?" And all that remains will be cast into the bin.

9 And if any acceptable offerings are found that have been left to rot, or get that white crusty stuff on the chocolate, I shall say to you, "How is it that you have hidden this from my eyes, and have not even eaten it?" And your father shall not be pleased with you.

HT: Joel

Wish I had a GAP Shirt, and Other Thoughts on Prayer

Not long ago, my wife and I met a lady (neighbor to some church friends). She wore a 'GAP shirt' with small print that read, "God Answers Prayer". I was amazed by the way she used the shirt as a conversation-starter, in order to witness for Christ! I wishI had that shirt right now, because I want to shout from the rooftops that my God answers prayer!

God has been teaching me to go to Him in prayer confidently (Heb 4:16) and expectantly. I see this both in His Word and in experience.

I have seen this in the Gospel of John, especially in Jesus words in chapters 14-16.

• Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)
• If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)
• You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
• In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23-24)
• In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf (John 16:26) (bold mine)
  

Then in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes Himself perfectly clear:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

We should go to God in prayer persistently, like the persistent widow in Luke 18.

God answers prayer! I also have seen this in my life on many occasions.

Not much time to write despite the day off, but let me just share that I am finding this to be true in my own life recently. Just today I am seeing specific prayers answered! I must confess the sin of prayerlessness; far too often I have prefered a book on prayer to prayer with the Living God! But, He is gracious and His Holy Spirit faithful to convict me on this. It is amazing that when we are humbled and corrected, we can be brought back into fellowship with the God of the Universe, then He gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4)!

God answers prayer!

Of course, I am not implying that God is a cosmic genie at our beckon call, or that if your prayers are not answered we are somehow lacking in faith. But we should ask ourselves like Francis Chan asks in this message, 'Do you know God? Are you known by Him? Does He answer your prayers?'

We also need to make sure our prayers are directed to the One True God, the One revealed in the Scripture. Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). The One True God is not the Mormon god, or the god of Mohammed, or any other false god. He is the One who reveals Himself through Scripture. He is the One that answers my prayers! Wow, what a thought! A brother just shared this quote.

"The Alpha and Omega knows who you are and what you care about. That’s as famous as you’re ever going to be." -Jon Acuff

Finally, consider your motives. Are you praying selfishly? (James 4:1-8) Jesus says that we are to pray for the Father's name to be 'hallowed'(Matthew 6:9-15). That is, we are to pray for His name to be revered and lifted up as it is, three times holy! Are we praying for His will or are we just praying that we will find the nearest parking spot?

So start with God. Meditate on His majesty and holiness and Sovereignty. Then in humility ask for His will to be done in any given situation, and for Him to get glory for His Name! This morning I was brought low before the Triune God of the Scriptures. Within hours He powerfully answered my prayer! Will write more on the specifics of that request later, but just wanted to encourage the brethren to always go to Him and ask Him for your every need and for the needs of others, but mostly for His name to be exalted (Psalm 67)! It is inconsistent at best (blasphemous at worst) to claim the name of Christ, the one who created and sustains the Universe, and yet to disbelieve He will answer our prayers!

God Answers Prayer!